A recent blog post from IT Business Edge writer Ann All describes IT governance as a compromise. All likens governance to her son brushing his teeth, where the 9-year old doesn't like routine and doesn't give brushing the full attention it deserves, even though the boy is aware of the problems involved with negligence. 

Her son's resistance is much like how companies treat IT governance, never giving it their undivided attention - "short-term sacrifice for long-term gain," as All puts it. She believes that governance is problematic, as making decisions as a committee can be challenging and not agile, as many decision makers strive to be.

Jonathan Reichental, CIO of O'Reilly Media, told All IT governance "requires that the scarce resource of technology capacity be diligently distributed across the organization for overall business success." While, in theory, this seems an appropriate measure, All writes, many teams will think their needs take priority and thus, disrupt the harmony.

So in order for governance to work, a compromise must be struck among all divisions and with the rising threat of IT security, making sure governance is in place is becoming essential. In fact, a recent report from the ISACA found IT governance does indeed play a central role now for companies regarding IT security.